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# 4 Upper and lower case

Now practise your ability to read and write the capital letters.

## Activity 4 Case practice

Allow about 15 minutes

Rewrite the Greek words using capital letters throughout. Note that when Greek words are written in capital letters, accents are not used and breathings are regularly omitted, too. You can use this worksheet if you wish: Upper and lower case.

- γῆ (= earth)
- δοῦλος (= slave)
- ἔγραψα (= I wrote)
- θαυμάζω (= I am amazed)
- νίκη (= victory)
- συμμάχος (= ally)

### Discussion

In capital letters the words should read as follows:

- ΓΗ (gē)
- ΔΟΥΛΟΣ (doulos)
- ΕΓΡΑΨΑ (egrapsa)
- ΘΑΥΜΑΖΩ (thaumazо̄)
- ΝΙΚΗ (nikē)
- ΣΥΜΜΑΧΟΣ (summachos)

Now, rewrite the following words using lower case Greek letters only.

- ΑΛΛΑ (= but; apply a smooth breathing)
- ΔΗΜΟΣ (= people)
- ΕΙΡΗΝΗ (= peace; apply a smooth breathing)
- ΛΕΓΩ (= I say, speak)
- ΜΑΝΘΑΝΩ (= I learn)
- ΣΤΡΑΤΟΠΕΔΟΝ (= a camp)

### Discussion

In lower case the words should read as follows:

- ἀλλά
- δῆμος
- εἰρήνη
- λέγω
- μανθάνω
- στρατόπεδον

Look again at the inscription from Priene you saw in Session 1. Rewrite the first line in lower case letters, preserving the initial capital of Alexander’s name.

Figure 3 First lines of the Priene block inscription

### Discussion

In lower case the first line would read:

- βασιλεὺς Ἀλέξανδρος

If you used the worksheet for these activities, here is a completed version for comparison: Upper and lower case [completed].

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OpenLearn - Getting started on ancient Greek
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